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November is the perfect time of the year to get your pup out and about with the family! Whether you go hiking, camping, hunting, or any outdoor activity.  Protecting your fur baby is crucial, so that fun is the only thing on the agenda. A big threat to pups around this time of year is Leptospirosis. Commonly referred to as Lepto, it is a deadly disease that can be found in puddles and bodies of water contaminated with urine from wildlife that are carrying the infectious organism. As you can imagine, there are plenty of water sources that wildlife have access to in Roswell. Some may even be in your backyard!  Leptospirosis gains entry into the pet’s body when the dog ingests the contaminated water source.  Lepto is a life-threatening disease and needs to be identified and treated immediately. Symptoms of Leptospirosis include; fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, lethargy, stiffness, and severe weakness. Ultimately, Lepto causes liver and kidney failure in the dog if left untreated. Another key fact is that this is Zoonotic…basically, your pet can transmit this disease to you or your children!!
Decades ago, hunting dogs were the main type of pet that was vaccinated against Leptospirosis. Currently, the highest incidence of Lepto cases are in the big cities due to the rodent populations and abundance of puddles on the sidewalks and streets. Have I ever seen a Leptospirosis case in Roswell, Alpharetta, or Marietta? The answer is YES…and not just one or two cases. Is your pup protected? We have had quite the rainy fall season in Atlanta, so the contact opportunity is increased. We recommend an annual vaccine that protects against Leptospirosis. It is highly effective, safe, and can reduce the risk of bringing this disease to your doorstep. Please do not hesitate to give us a call and make an appointment to get them covered prior to your Thanksgiving day post-meal hike! We look forward to seeing their wagging tails and precious faces before the holidays hit.

Do Thanksgiving leftovers give you anxiety? Do you ask yourself the day after Thanksgiving…What am I going to do with all of that turkey? Let your pup experience some of the thanksgiving flavors by making one of these great treat recipes for them with your leftovers! 

Turkey Jerky from leftover Turkey

Have too much turkey left over and tired of making turkey, cranberry, and stuffing sandwiches? Let’s make Turkey Jerky! Make sure to use the white meat, as it is lower in fat and is better tolerated by their bellies.

Ingredients

• Olive oil cooking spray to cover the strips

• ¼ - ½ cup low sodium chicken broth

• Chopped parsley

• Leftover, unseasoned turkey breast cut into thin strips

Directions 

• In a long container with a lid, mix together the chicken broth and finely chopped parsley. 

• Spray both sides of the turkey breast strips with olive oil spray

• Add the sliced turkey, cover, shake gently, and allow to marinate for at least three hours (longer if the turkey is dry). 

• Preheat the oven to 250º F.

•  Line a cookie sheet, place strips on it, and slow bake for one hour. The jerky should be crisp and crunchy when done. 

• Let cool; store in the refrigerator. You can also freeze, too.

Sweet Potato and Turkey Treats                                                                                                  
They freeze beautifully, and make darling DIY holiday gifts for all the beloved pups in your life!     

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plain mashed, cooked sweet potatoes 

• 3/4 cup water

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

• 2 cups finely chopped, cooked turkey (use turkey breast)

• 2 cups whole wheat flour or white whole wheat flour

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.

• In a medium bowl, combine sweet potatoes, water, and egg, stirring until thoroughly incorporated. Add turkey and flour and stir again until combined. Batter will be very thick and sticky.

• To make rectangular biscuits, use a rubber spreader to spread the dough evenly onto a parchment-lined baking sheet to form a rectangle wanting it to be about ½” thick. 

• Use a knife or pizza cutter to score the dough into rectangles of whatever size you'd like. 

• Bake for about 30 minutes, until the dog treats are lightly golden brown.

• Cool completely and then break along the score lines.

• Store in the refrigerator or in zippered freezer bags in the freezer - thaw before serving.